Band Bios

Tommy Carlyle moved to Wichita from California when the earth was young. He has performed with and/or opened for many famous artists including Gregg Allman, Bill Ward of Black Sabbath fame, Roger Fisher of Heart, Eddie Money, Huey Lewis, Chris Duarte, Rainbow and many others. In 2003 and 2004 his popular Wichita blues band “Gravy” won the International Blues challenge regional award and represented Kansas at the finals in Memphis, where they finished in the top ten both years. He for a number of years ran A#1 studios where he engineered and produced over 80 projects for local Wichita acts. His “old school” approach to synthesis lends itself perfectly to the retro 80’s New Wave sound which is “THE ECHOS.”

Sharla Collins was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle and grew up performing in Texas Opries and guest appearances in Branson Music Shows. A country singer her whole life, she formed her first band at 17 and wrote and produced Branson Style music shows for The Big Texan. The stage has always been her second home. She most recently took up acting, portraying Dolly Parton in the Words and Music of Dolly Parton with The Forum. Always one to embrace a new challenge, Sharla jumped at the chance to sing for an 80s New Wave Band, because the music was familiar and the chemistry with the guys was exciting.

Random Ax has skills, like nunchuck skills, bow hunting skills and computer hacking skills. Because girls only want guys with skills. Oh, and he’s been in a lot of bands. He was in a country band that made a lot of money. And a punk band that was exponentially better, well loved, and critically acclaimed, but didn’t make any money at all. Life is funny like that. He’s played in front of thousands, and sometimes he’s just played in front of the bartender and his girlfriend. In the 80s, he was playing the same music that he is now, although his voice isn’t changing anymore. So, he’s old. But persistent.

Jeff started playing real drums when his mother got tired of him setting up pots and pans and banging on them. His first bands were country bands. He went on to record an album with one of them when he was in college. Moving to California he played in various bands out there. Returning to Kansas he hooked up with a punk rock musician and put together an 80s new wave band playing some of the music he grew up listening to while riding a tractor all summer long on the farm he was raised on. Now looking to get out and play and let others enjoy the great music from the 80s he enjoyed. Jeff is also consistently the funniest member of the band.

He’s a 6’6″ tall rhythm man whose bandmates nicknamed Tabasco (perhaps due to his “Spicy” nature). He started playing drums in Jr high and high school but preferred standing behind a bass, not sitting behind a trap set. He played bass in jazz band in high school and college in Houston and played in multiple local bands at clubs in the greater Houston area back in the day. Tobasco loves music from every genre but especially 80s New Wave because a number of songs from that era have distinct bass lines that almost tell a story of their own. Not content to play bass on just a… bass, he also plays synth bass, because there’s nothing like a wall of synthesizers hitting you in the face.

Racer X is a heroic, mysterious, flamboyant, selfless, sympathetic, and often brooding soldier of fortune. Leaving home at an early age, he initially found fame as a race car driver, albeit one who never actually reveals his identity. When he’s not on the racetrack behind the wheel of the famed Shooting Star, he works as an international secret agent and is often responsible for thwarting evil corporate schemes. In this persona, he is usually seen in his trademark white linen suit, Panama hat, and wrap-around sunglasses. He occasionally works in cooperation with Inspector Detector, though it is not clear if he actually works for the same organization.